Bergen, Gerhard van (1704-1771)

Gerhard van Bergen: minister and elder; born 17 January 1704 in Gross Lichtenau, Prussia. He married Maria Claassen (11 April 1704, Gross Lichtenau, Prussia - 30 August 1776, Gross Lichtenau, Prussia) on 4 February 1731. She was the daughter of Isaac Claassen (1670-1731) and Margaretha (Bergmann) Claassen (1667-1736). Gerhard died 20 January 1771 in Gross Lichtenau.

Gerhard was a minister in the Heubuden Mennonite Church. In 1741, upon the wishes of the then 81-year-old Elder Jacob Dyck (1661-1748), (the first elder in Heubuden), Gerhard was ordained as the second elder in the church. On 17 June 1768 the Bishop of Culm granted the church a Privilegium, giving Heubuden and three other Mennonite congregations the right to build a church of wood. Construction began on the Heubuden church in July of that year and after some delays services were held in the building by Christmas.

During Bergen's term as elder, the Dutch language continued to be used for church services until around 1770, when he oversaw the transition to the German language.